“Where did you even get so much of this?” Priya asked skeptically.
“I’m a close advisor of the temple elders, aren’t I? People give me things.”
“Billu, if you’ve been accepting bribes from people—”
“You’ll do what?”
“Encourage you to get better-quality items,” Priya said. “That’s what.”
He snorted.
“I bartered for it,” he admitted. “It’s mine by a fair trade. And now it’s yours.”
“When will I have time to use all of this?”
“You’re going to join an army, aren’t you? It’s not for you, girl. It’s for making friends. You’ll win over soldiers faster with drugs and liquor than you ever will with pretty words.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I’m not—what do you want in return?”
“Why would I want anything? It’s a gift.” When she repeated her thanks, he shrugged and said gruffly, “Just get yourself back swiftly. You’ll be missed.”
She said goodbye to Rukh next.
“You’ll be back soon enough,” he said resolutely.
“Ah, you won’t even pretend you’re going to miss me?” Priya put on a front of anger, crossing her arms. “And after all I’ve done for you!”
Rukh gave a sigh, and rolled his eyes. But then he hugged her. He was a terrible hugger—all sharp, growing limbs and awkwardness. But she could feel the fierceness of his affection in the way his arms tightened around her. Helplessly fond, Priya hugged him in return.
“Thank you for all you’ve done for me, Priya,” he said. “I’ll miss you.”
“That’s better.” She patted his head, even as he grumbled and shied away. He rubbed his knuckles over his eyes, clearing his throat.
“When you come back, I’ll be using a proper saber,” he told her. “You wait and see, you’re going to be so impressed.”
“You’re not at all worried I might not come back, then?” He shook his head. “Brat.” She ruffled the leaves of his hair, and this time he allowed it, laughing.
“You’re stronger than anyone,” he said. He met her gaze, and his face turned serious. “You’ll be fine.”
“Are you trying to comfort me?”
He shook his head.
“You know you’re strong,” he said. “But maybe you need to know that everyone knows.”
Everyone did think she was strong.
Everyone but Bhumika, who said she trusted her, who was letting her go, but had looked at her with strange, damp eyes and begged a promise out of her.Come home.
Priya put that disquiet aside and sought out Sima.
She found her in Priya’s own chambers, carefully folding a sari. There was already a salwar kameez neatly packed on her cot, a sachet of dried herbs for sweetness tucked into a sleeve.
Priya touched the kameez. She was almost sure she’d worn this in the training yard and dirtied it.
“You washed my clothes?”
“Was someone else going to do it?” Sima retorted.
